Not only have birds kept us entertained during this world-wide pandemic, they have also made us feel happier and less stressed. Here’s a way to help bird populations in return: it’s a Citizen Science type bird count that we can do either from the safety of our homes or our favourite birding location.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a 4-day annual event that provides a snapshot of where birds are around the world. It is taking place Feb 12-15, 2021. Last year there were 6,942 species recorded and 268,674 checklists submitted.
To participate, simply count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count and enter their sightings at BirdCount.org. The information gathered by tens of thousands of volunteers helps track changes in bird populations on a massive scale. Birds Canada is a partner in the Great Backyard Bird Count, along with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Audubon Society.
Here is a link to the instructions. And here’s a link to last year’s results https://www.birdcount.org/learn/annual-results/